The road to succe s in any major team sport begins with drafting and developing players that will fit a given model.

Some believechampionship rosters can be constructed through formulas and analytic innovation, while others lean towardthe old school method of eyeballing the kids who stand out and getting them to buy into a culture that focuses on exceeding Taylor Guilbeau Jersey expectations rather than simply meeting them.

In the end, however, whichever concept drives a teams overarching building strategy ultimately is measured by what the players become and how well the team performs with them. Metrics to measure succe s vary, but sometimes the best way to judge a teams prospect is to objectively ask the question, What is this players ultimate potential?

SN's TOP 50:

In the followingrankings, the zone of consideration for all 310 prospects is Calder Trophy (NHL rookie of the year) eligibility between 18-26 years old and no more than 25 combined NHL regular season games played. Teams with multiple prospects who po se s superior talent (i.e. star potential) received favorable grades, as did teams with a significant amount of post-draft prospects with impre sive numbers (regardle s of sample size) against adult-age competition in either the National Hockey League or the American Hockey League. The reason is simple:Its a lot easier to light up a junior hockey league than to do the same against men in the NHL or AHL.

Several players who ranked highly in personal pre-draft rankings were afforded a longer leash in the event of a perceived plateau in development. Eventual draft position did not factor in these rankings, and we should all come to accept the fact that there is no example of the first 10 players picked in a draft (in any sport) who turned out to become the 10 best pro players from that draft. The ninth overall pick rarely becomes one of the best players in his draft cla s, let alonean NHL star.

NHL DRAFT 2018:|

Shed Long Jersey

1. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres have officially run out of excuses. The league isn't out to get them, nor is some black cloud hovering over the franchise. They have two of the league's premier prospects in Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt, in addition to sniping winger Alex Nylander. This trio represents Buffalo's last three first round picks, so the law of averages says at least two of them should join current Sabre Jack Eichel to form the foundation of what could be one of the league's most potent attacks.

PROSPECTPOSITION2018-19 TEAM (Proj.)ACQUIRED1. Rasmus DahlinLHDBuffalo (NHL)1st/20182. Casey MittelstadtC/LWBuffalo (NHL)1st/20173. Alex NylanderRWRochester Omar Narvaez Jersey (AHL)1st/20164. Brendan GuhleLHDBuffalo (NHL)2nd/20155. Rasmus AsplundCRochester (AHL)2nd/20166. Mattias Samuel sonLHDW.Michigan (NCAA)2nd/20187. Marcus David sonCDjugardens (SHL)2nd/20178. Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenGSudbury (OHL)2nd/20179. Victor Olof sonLWBuffalo (NHL)7th/201410. Matej PekarCMiami-Ohio (NCAA)4th/2018

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2. Philadelphia Flyers

It's easy to lose track of how many general managers talk about the importance of building a deep farm system. But count on Ron Hextall as being one of the few who has been patient enough to actually go through with the proce s of stockpiling picks and allowing them to develop properly. Constructing the league's deepest prospect pool hasn't been easy, as the Flyers haven't won a playoff round in six years. Erik Swanson Jersey Yet still, thefuture is extremely bright. Not only for the young stars already playing the NHL, but also for selecting elite youngsters outside of the top 10 like goalie Carter Hart, center Morgan Frost and super-slick winger Joel Farabee.

PROSPECTPOSITION2018-19 TEAM (Proj.)ACQUIRED1. Joel FarabeeLWBoston U. (NCAA)1st/20182. Carter HartGLehigh Valley (AHL)2nd/20163. Philippe MyersRHDLehigh Valley (AHL)UDFA4. Morgan FrostCSault Ste. Marie (OHL)1st/20175. Oskar LindblomLWPhiladelphia (NHL)5th/20146. German RubstovCLehigh Valley (AHL)1st/20167. Jay O'BrienCProvidence (NCAA)1st/20188. Mike VecchioneC/WLehigh Valley (AHL)UDFA9. Isaac RatcliffeLWGuelph (AHL)2nd/201710. Wade AllisonRWW.Michigan (NCAA)2nd/20163. Vancouver Canucks

Patience is far from a virtue in a hockey-crazed town like Vancouver, as poor performances on the ice have cost jobs and kept fans away from the arena. But brighter days most certainly are ahead for this once-dominant franchise, and drafting elite playmakers like winger Elias Petter son and defenseman Quinn Hughes to help feed pucks to snipers like Jay Bruce Jersey Brock Boeser and Jonathan Dahlen will shorten the time it takes to rekindle local interest. Additionally, the Canucks have two tremendous goaltending prospects in Thatcher Demko and Michael DiPietro. And defenseman Olli Juolevi continues to po se s top-pairing potential even though a back injury will keep him on the sidelines for a few months.

PROSPECTPOSITION2018-19 TEAM (Proj.)ACQUIRED1. Elias Petter sonLW/CVancouver (NHL)1st/20172. Quinn HughesLHDMichigan (NCAA)1st/20183. Thatcher DemkoGUtica (AHL)2nd/20144. Jonathan DahlenLWTimra (SHL)Trade (OTT)5. Olli JuoleviLHDUtica (AHL)1st/20166. Adam GaudetteCUtica (AHL)5th/20157. Michael DiPietroGWindsor (OHL)3rd/20178. Kole LindRWUtica (AHL)2nd/20179. Lukas JasekRWUtica (AHL)6th/201510. Jett WooRHDMoose Jaw (WHL)2nd/2018

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4. Carolina Hurricanes

The regime change in Carolina that cost Ron Francis his job as general manager doesn't change the fact that the Hurricanes already owned an arsenal of identifiable blue-chip prospects. Bringing uber-sniper Andrei Svechnikovinto the fold is the cherry on top fora pipeline that Austin Nola Jersey already included exciting center Martin Necas, future No. 1 goalie Alex Nedeljkovic and puck rusher Adam Fox. It won't be long before these kids start imposing their will on NHL competition. Additionally, the Canes have a bunch of AHL-seasoned blue-chippers, plus kids like Warren Foegele and Lucas Wallmark, neither of whom didn't look out of place during their respective NHL call-up.

PROSPECTPOSITION2018-19 TEAM (Proj.)ACQUIRED1. Andrei SvechnikovRWCarolina (NHL)1st/20182. Martin NecasCBrno (Extraliga)1st/20173. Alex NedeljkovicGCharlotte (AHL)2nd/20144. Aleksi SaarelaCCharlotte (AHL)Trade (NYR)5. Valentin ZykovLWCharlotte (AHL)Trade (LAK)6. Warren FoegeleLWCarolina (NHL)3rd/20147. Lucas WallmarkCCarolina (NHL)4th/20148. Adam FoxRHDHarvard (NCAA)Trade (CGY)9. Janne KuokkanenCCharlotte (AHL)2nd/201610. Julien GauthierRWCharlotte (AHL)1st/2016

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5. St. Louis Blues

A busy offseason has added some legitimacy to the Blues' annual quest for the